Weanie

I have always been committed to nursing Elliott as long as he wants to continue or until he turns two, whichever comes first. We struggled so much to overcome my supply issues and latch issues caused by his long-undiagnosed upper lip tie. I swallowed handfuls of supplements and went off caffeine and pumped four times a day and drove him to St Louis to get his lip fixed. I was all in.

Just before Elliott turned one, I decided I would commit to pumping until he hit 18 months. With Nico I was able to ditch the pump as soon as he turned one and he continued to nurse at bedtime until he was almost 22 months old. I didn't trust my body to keep my supply up for Elliott with him only nursing in the mornings, so since his birthday I've been pumping every morning. It's not a huge burden and feels like a break after formerly pumping 3 - 4 times a day. But now, at 14 1/2 months, I think Elliott is weaning himself. He has only nursed one morning this week. I'm getting a paltry two ounces when I pump, which is starting to feel not quite worth the trouble. I'm torn between wanting him to continue to have the benefits of breastmilk until 18 months and thinking maybe I should just follow his lead and let our nursing time end.

Complicating things is how much easier our vacation at the end of the month will be if I don't have to pump every morning. I feel terribly selfish even considering ditching the pump when he's only 15 months old, but...if he doesn't care about the boob anymore, is it time to move on together? I just don't know. For now I'm still pumping each day, still holding out hope it's a nursing strike and my sweet fuzzy-headed boy will decide he wants to be a baby a little bit longer.